Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Strut PDX Fashion Show



On Friday May 11th Kristy Charroin, our Studio Rep, took some of our clients out on the town to the Wonder Ballroom to support Strut PDX. One of our favorite designers (and talent bookers) Jonny Shultz was there to show off his latest creations on the catwalk. You can check him out at www.jonnyshultzdesigns.com.

Thank you Peter, Ed and Lance for such a laughter filled evening!

NEWS

9 Collaborators attend Photo LA for inspiration
This is such an inspirational event so we decided to take Photographers, Stylists, Project Managers and our Studio Rep. We headed down to Santa Monica for some sun and to view photography old and new. Everyone came away with new ideas on how to approach images, the Fine Art world crossing over into Commercial applications and a great way for the team to bond.

Studio Rep Kristy attends Photo Expo in New York
She packed her bag for 4 days and 10 seminars to see what the latest industry news was. I can't divulge all of the secrets, but diversity was a huge topic of conversation. Not only in what Art Buyers are looking for, but the people that we choose to use in our stock and test shoots. The world is a diverse place, so lets show it!

New clients!
We LOVE them. Though we do have confidentially agreements with most of our clients, so I am unable to list all of them out. They have all been so wonderful to work with and we appreciate the good times.

We had a month worth of shooting for a large boat company, going out on location, shooting from a helicopter on the river and loads of huge boats in the studio. Would you consider those product shots?

Yoga Life Magazine asked us to shoot Ali Sacash-Johnson from Solomon for their Winter 2006 issue. So we headed up to the big fireplace at Timberline and captured a beautiful shot for the spread.

Gutentag!
The Collaborators dive into German class! Yes another adventure together. Danke can be heard throughout the studio.... just don't ask me to order lunch.

Straub Collaborative hires new Project Managers
Tiffany Renshaw. Tiffany comes to us with a degree in International Business and 15 years of experience managing creative projects that include print design, catalog development and 3D fixture environments.

Jeff Noel. Jeff comes to us with a degree in photography and 16 years in the business. Jeff has been working in Portland photography studios for the past 11 years and has vast knowledge of what it takes to put on a seamless photoshoot.

We are excited to have them as part of our team!

Photographer Sophie Pangrazzi is back from France.
She brings back sweet little Ocean Pangrazzi. Ocean was born on July 28, 2006.
She is a spitting image of her dad! We look forward to seeing all the great images that Sophie takes of her.

Straub Collaborative is awarded #20 in Portland Business Journals 2006 fastest growing companies.
Wow! What an amazing 3 years we have had here at the studio. Receiving this recognition from the business community was such an amazing reward for all the hard work that everyone has put into this company. We are proud to be part of Portland's continued business growth.

Go GREEN!
Yes we are all fans of going green. At the beginning of 2006 we all decided that paper is so last year! So we implemented a paperless work system. We love PDF's and working in the electronic age. We happily display our Pacific Power renewable energy sticker in the window.

Straub Collaborative is awarded Master Proofer status from Gracol and IDEalliance.

What Print Buyers* Want
*Agencies, publishers, packaging, etc.

Lower costs (but never lower quality)
Better match between press and proof
All proofing systems looking the same
Similar visual “appearance” no matter where or how a job is printed
Easier file exchange*
*Between different countries or printing methods

What Printers Want

Proofs that really match the press
All proofs made to the same standard
More consistent CMYK files*
*All separated to the same standard TAC, GCR, tone shape, gray balance
Faster make-ready
Less waste
More efficiency

Common Solution - STANDARDS

Printing is no longer an art form, it’s a manufacturing process
Customers want consistency, not something uniquely different every time
Shift to monitor printing requires new level of trust between creatives and printers
This is only possible by manufacturing to a precise specifications based on visual appearance


What is the G7 process?

Practical implementation of ISO 12647-2*
*Eliminates ambiguities - makes the standard more valuable as a matching tool
Method of calibrating ANY press or proofer to common gray scale appearance
Based on visual metrics (e.g. density) vs “mechanical” metrics (e.g. TVI)
Logical use of proofing or CtP RIP curves

NEWS RELEASE
About GRACoL®
In 1966, a graphics arts task force was formed by the Graphic Communications Association (now IDEAlliance) to develop a document containing general guidelines and recommendations that could be used as a reference source across the industry for quality color printing. Since that time, the GRACoL Committee has developed, maintained and published printing guidelines that have since become de facto standards on many pressrooms. The mission of GRACoL is to improve communications and education in the graphic arts by developing best practices that reflect the influence and impact of new technologies in the workflow of commercial offset lithography. GRACoL is a registered trademark of IDEAlliance. Learn more at http://www.gracol.org.